Escape the Crowds

Take the teleferik up Uludağ

From a city street to alpine forest in half an hour — nearly nine kilometres of gondola line, and a picnic at the top.

₺₺half a daya clear day — check it's running before you leave

Why do it?

Bursa is the only big Turkish city with a mountain on its doorstep, and the teleferik is how the city gets up it: gondolas from the Teferrüç station on the eastern edge of town, up through Kadıyayla to the Sarıalan meadows in the national park, and on to the hotel zone near the ski lifts. The line was completely rebuilt as a modern gondola in 2014 and, at nearly nine kilometres, is one of the longest cable-car routes anywhere. Sarıalan at the top is what it sounds like — a high forest clearing with picnic tables, tea gardens and walking paths, and cool air when the city below is baking.

The Smileys Take

Pick a clear day (the ride is the view) and get off at Sarıalan rather than riding to the end: the meadow is the experience, and a slow tea in the pines beats the hotel zone. Bring layers — it is a different climate up there in any month. The line runs daily, roughly ten to seven as of late summer 2026, but wind, fog and maintenance close it without much notice, so ⚠ VERIFY it's operating on the day (phone or the operator's site) before you gather a group. It's a private concession, so it sells its own tickets — don't count on a BursaKart at the gate. A great first Smileys outing: small group, one gondola, lots of talking.

Stations, bottom to top

Teferrüç — the base station on the eastern edge of the city; reachable by city bus.
Kadıyayla — a mid-station in the forest.
Sarıalan — the meadow, the picnic tables, the walking trails. Get off here.
Oteller (hotel zone) — the ski lifts and hotels; the top of the line.